gww>Gwido at 15:00, 4 July 2026

2026-07-04T15:00:43Z

New page

{{redirect 2|"AM"|the mission|[[Abaddon's Mouth]]}}
{{Skill infobox
| id = 65
| name = Arcane Mimicry
| campaign = Core
| profession = Mesmer
| type = Spell
| energy = 15
| recharge = 60
| activation = 2
| causes1 = Skill Copying
| description = [[Spell]]. For 20 seconds, Arcane Mimicry becomes the non-[[form]] [[elite skill]] from [[target]] other [[ally]].
| concise description = Spell. This skill becomes target ally's elite skill (20 seconds). {{gray|Cannot self-target. No effect if target's elite skill is a form.}}
| target = other allies
}}

== Acquisition ==
'''[[Skill trainer]]s'''
* [[Prophecies]]
** [[Avena]] ([[Maguuma Stade]])
** [[Tengsao]] ([[The Amnoon Oasis]])
** [[Dakk]] ([[Ember Light Camp]])
* [[Factions]]
** [[Michiko]] ([[Kaineng Center]])
* [[Nightfall]]
** [[Medando]] ([[Yohlon Haven]])
'''[[Hero skill trainer]]s'''
* Nightfall
** [[Warden of Whispers (Chantry of Secrets)|Warden of Whispers]] ([[Chantry of Secrets]])

== Hero Usage ==
* Heroes prioritize which elite they copy as follows:
*# Elites from the hero's primary [[profession]].
*# High rank in the relevant attribute.
*# [[No Attribute Skill]]s.
** The [[AI]] will never choose to copy an elite unless they have at least rank six in the required attribute (including any modifications). ''No Attribute'' Skills can always be copied.
* Heroes will use the copied skill as they normally would do.
** Maintained enchantments that heroes would dismiss can be disabled to be maintained for the duration of the copy effect. When the copy effect ends the enchantment will be dropped as soon as the AI dictates it to (i.e. the hero is not in a situation where it would normally maintain the enchantment). Out of combat, [[Unyielding Aura]] is the only elite maintained enchantment that the AI won't immediately dismiss.
* Players can manually chose which skill will be copied. This can be done in the following manner:
*# Disable Arcane Mimicry on the heroes bar, as otherwise they will use it on cooldown.
*# Select which party member you want the hero to copy.
*# Order the hero to cast Arcane Mimicry.
** While this does allow player control, this requires a significant amount of micromanagement to achieve similar results to the hero AI.

== Notes ==
* When using Arcane Mimicry on an ally that has more than one elite skill, the first elite skill from the left on their [[skill bar]] is copied. Accordingly, keep Arcane Mimicry to the right of any intended elite skill(s) if the team [[build]] requires mutual mimicry.
* If used on an ally without a non-form elite skill, Arcane Mimicry [[recharge]]s instead.
**Heroes (and presumably other NPCs) cannot use this skill to copy ''any'' [[List_of_Anniversary_Celebration_elite_skills|PvE-only skill]].
* A successful Arcane Mimicry does not recharge like other skills: after the copy effect ends, the skill is [[disable]]d for 60 seconds.
* [[Upkeep|Maintained enchantments]], [[Upkeep#Skills that last indefinitely without an upkeep|skills that last indefinitely without an upkeep]] or [[Renewal effect|skills that renew themselves]] copied with Arcane Mimicry will continue to be maintained, active or renewable even after expiration of Arcane Mimicry copy effect.
* [[Signet of Illusions]] or [[Symbols of Inspiration]] can be used to boost the attribute rank of a relevant copied elite.
* Players are able to copy elite skills which are not available from their skill list, but use them only when certain conditions are met:
** if the skill is a core skill or belongs to a campaign available on the [[account]], the player (and their [[hero]]es) can use it even if it has not been [[unlock]]ed.
** if the skill belongs to a campaign unavailable to the account, it will be copied to the skill bar but cannot be used by the playable character (remaining [[Skill icon#Locked skills|locked]] like PvE-only skills are in a PvP area).
** heroes are able to copy and use skills from any campaigns available and unavailable to an account, but the player cannot force the use of skills from campaigns unavailable to them.

== Trivia ==
* During early development, this skill used the current skill icon of [[Energy Drain]]<ref>http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/guild-wars/560483p1.html</ref>.

== References ==
<references/>

{{anomaly|No effect if target's elite skill is [[Junundu Siege]].}}
* Good synergy with [[Assassin's Promise]] and [[Air of Superiority]] to bypass the high recharge time.
[[Category:Skills offered by hero skill trainers]]
[[Category:Hero-vetted skills]]

Arcane Mimicry - Revision history

gww>Gwido at 15:00, 4 July 2026